Kis: Decisions and Consequences - Temple of K'tan - 27th ET

[Sebastian Beauvais]

OOC: Was waiting for Alustariel, but we'll just barge ahead.
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Lieutenant Ceallachan nodded in acceptance of Ashtallion's compliment, although both he and his underling were still breathing heavily after the battle. The other guard was maintaining a watch, facing out into the night against the possibility of more interlopers.

"Kind words, Lord Alrul, but we have you to thank for alerting us to the presence of the rebels in the first place," the adhiel soldier pointed out between deep breaths. "I've no doubt the High Priestess will have her own praise to add to this night's work."

Ashtallion was able to fight off his weariness and the dark of night to evoke a small silvery globe of light in front of him, but it danced and flickered like a wind-teased torch. Still, it was enough to provide a shimmery glow to the area about the base of the tree, and reflection off the fog that still clung to the area. It should make things easier for Alu on her descent.

[Alustariel Urdil]

OOC: Sorry guys. Had to put RL first (applied for a promotion at work and just did my interview last thursday. Should be able to keep up now
--

Alu plucked out the dagger that the Brotherhood leader had thrown into tree descended from the tree as nimbly as she could, she had watched the battle with a touch of admiration for her brothers abilities. Though what made her happiestw was the fact that the Urdils were together again through yet another ordeal.

She had watched her brother and the Guards perform their own part in the battle. But this part was going to be uniquely hers. Clutching the dagger in her left hand she reached the base of the tree and began to search the ground. Where had the cloaked man gone? She had heard his moans as he crawled away during the fight. He could not have gone far.

"I'm alright" she called back to the others "... and save your magic Ashtallion, he's mine if I can find him", figuring her brother knew who she was talking about, Alu grimly returned to searching for the human's leader.

[Ashtallion Urdil]

Ashtallion opened his mouth in protest against Alustariel even thinking she was going to kill the cloaked man, but promptly stopped himself from speaking out. She had been stuck in that tree, next to useless to them while he had fought to save her...no doubt she wanted her own revenge and Ashtallion was not going to dissuade her from obtaining it. Besides, he wanted to see how far his sister would go. He had just taken two lives, he viewed the two human corpses with cold detachment, surprised slightly at how little felt for them.

Turning back to Alu, " Of course, Alu. He is all yours. ", the wizard folded his hands into the opposite sleeves and took a step back, watching her, waiting. Do you have what it take Alustariel? I wonder. For what I have in mind for our future I hope you do not disappoint me now, my Silver Sister.

[Sebastian Beauvais]

While Ashtallion watched closely, Alustariel probed ahead through the renewed fog beyond the Great Oak. Despite the visual hindrance there were clear signs of the human's tortured retreat through the grass and Alu had little trouble following the path so long as she remained at a cautious pace.

Within a burn she spied a form lying on the ground ahead, just at the edge of her mist-shrouded vision. The body was sprawled out on its back, the cloak twisted about the legs and chest, the cowl partially drawn back. It appeared the figure stole shallow breaths in an attempt to cling to this world.

Before either of the adhiel siblings could take action a voice sounded behind them. "Do you not think he should be brought into custody, lord and lady?" came the troublesome question from the copper-haired lieutenant of the guard. "Surely he will know much of the plans of the rebels, as well as the location of their hidden base of operations, if he still lives. This would be very valuable to the Crown."

[Alustariel Urdil]

Alu regarded the crumpled form, she felt almost dizzy with her dark intentions for this Kislovani traitor. Only a moment ago she had cowered from him, now she held complete power over his life. She had to admit, it was a very gratifying feeling.

"Even if he was to survive, do you really think he would cave to interrogation ... to torture?" she said "This man has likely spent his life hating the Adhiel institution ... I doubt he'd stop to turn in his friends now, and he's not afraid of Matyrdom ..."

Alustariel edged closer to the lying man, dagger held firm in her grip, any moment ready to plunge into his flesh.

"This man, has orchestrated no end of pain for me!" she spat out bitterly at the guard, more angry at the situation than the warrior himself" ... no end of pain for us!" she gestured to her brother "Does Kislovani law give me the right to take an eye for an eye?"

Kneeling down beside the form she went to pull back the man's hood. If she was going to kill him, she wanted to see his face first and know her enemy.

[Ashtallion Urdil]

The wizard stood there, hands in his sleeves with a face cold and expressionless. He found himself displaying this calm exterior more and more. Was he becoming hard? Unfeeling? He regarded the shadowy form of Alu amidst the fog and the man she crouched down to see with a certain amused detachment.

" Lieutenant... ", he was only assuming it was him that had spoken, it may very well have been one of the soldiers. " ....do you think this man would have taken either myself or Alu, or one of you in for interrogation? No. He merely had murder on his mind, and in truth, I have the exact same thought in my own head. I understand your concern though and in part I do agree with you....mayhap he has never had a sorcerer to persuade him and I would be happy to be that sorcerer.

" However. As my sister has stated, does she not have the right to her revenge? We know clearly what he intended for her and I'm sure he knows exactly what he is heading for, regardless of whether he gives us information or not. Where is the incentive for him to divulge information...unless of course he likes the idea of enduring hours of excrutiating pain at the hands of a skilled interrogater and a mage that can posibly rip the knowledge from his mind. Both of which I imagine will be extremely uncomfortable. ", he smirked slightly.

" Lady Alustariel is a member of the Kislovan Nobility... I leave the decision in her capable hands. I am sure she is aware of the consequences either of her choices will create. ", the magus looked up to the sky above them for a moment, seemingly looking for something, perhaps merely bored now by the event before him.

[Sebastian Beauvais]

"It is not so much a question of law as it is a question of morals," replied the adhiel lieutenant, though his tone was subdued. "Of whether you would demonstrate the human's assertion that you are in fact no different than he."

"There was a battle here and any outcome could be explained. I will not openly contradict your justifications, whatever you decide they should be. I defer to your judgement, Lord and Lady," Ceallachan ended with a short nod, before taking a step backward and then turning to join his subordinate in making sure the small group was not waylaid by further marauders.

Kneeling down beside the injured man, Alustariel was able to see in grisly detail the effect of Ashtallion's magic. The human's exposed flesh was a mess of charred, peeling patches and red, blistered areas. His breaths were shallow and ragged, though he clearly still clung painfully to life. Pulling back the cowl she revealed at last the man's face, half seared by her brother's spell. But the dark eyes still glinted with power and knowledge, and they did not shy away from facing his adhiel conqueror.

Overhead the flaming meteorites continued to flare across the sky, though it seemed to Ashtallion they were less in number than before and further spread out. Above all, Arkovda continued to watch in cold, gleaming exultation over events in Cerleann.

[Ashtallion Urdil]

Ashtallion never answered straight away. The lieutenants words struck him hard, the ring of truth resounding in his ears. He wanted to curse him, curse the soldier...curse Kislovan. He wanted to be cold and hard, he didn't want to struggle with his control over his emotions. Guilt and regret, he wanted rid of them. Compassion. Fear. Weak things that stripped him of logic and power.

Yet he knew even those gentle emotions had a strength. He just couldn't make up his mind as to which side of him was the stronger. " Alustariel....best we adhere to the lieutenant's advice. ", he swallowed back the taste of acid in his mouth, his stomach churning at what he wanted to do to the human. He wanted blood. His blood. As savage as any wolf....as any human. " You will have vengence, simply in a different form. "

The hardness of his voice was gone, replaced with a drained whisper. Was Alu going to listen to him though? Who was he to demand this of her. Hopefully she would see reason where even he had difficulty with it.

[Alustariel Urdil]

Alustariel did not seem to register the words of either the lieutenant or her brother. She stared down at the charred face of her assailant with a cold and uncaring gaze. She pressed the dagger up against his chin, looking as though at any moment she would ram it through his gullet.

"Yes. You've put me in a tight spot" she whispered in his ear, the dagger pressing slightly harder at his chin "I'm a good woman. I have morals. But my moral code also dictates that I remove those who threaten to harm the innocent. And if I have to flay your skin, spill your bowels, slit your throat and listen your screams so that you would never again threaten innocent lives ... I would do it gladly. The fact that you are sprawling, helpless to my designs matters very little to me ... " she did not look away "... all I see when I look at you is a racist bastard who deserves to die in the most painful manner and whether or not it is today or further down the track ... you shall recieve no less. Your maddness and bloodlust is at an end"

She rose the dagger high above her head as if ready to plunge it down into his neck.

"I may let you live today. But I shall visit you in your cell. When you are sleeping I will come and pluck out your eyes so that you cannot see the beautiful Adhiel world that you have been permitted to live in and been so intent on destroying. I would slice off your tongue so that you may never again spew such evil, vile filth. Your ears I will leave to you. You can live with the fear that I will one day return and whisper in your ear ... and on that day, my friend, I will kill you. You are mine."

Alustariel dropped the dagger and left the man on the ground, she walked away from the tree and over to her brother and the lieutenant. She felt instantly better about herself. She would of course, never have the opportunity to kill the stranger, but at least she enjoyed having the last laugh. Alu felt better that he sit in a cell and worry that at any moment she might come and lop his eyes and tongue off. The truth was that she would have liked to kill him there and then, but the man had committed Treason against the Adhiel people to whom this island was an ancestral homeland. If the Queen could use him to quash the unrest, so be it ... if she could. Chin held high Alustariel spoke in a hushed voice to the soldier.

"He is yours. But promise me that he will never again see the light of day. And when he does die, make sure it is in a tortured and lonely fashion. I do have morals ... " she said, as if answering the guards test of her " ... but I like my vengeance"

The silver haired adhiel turned to Ashtallion and all the severe and seriousness about her fell away. She smiled so warmly at him and fell into his arms in a loving embrace. Comfort, safety, relief ... all of those feelings came back to her as she held her brother, though she hoped he would not notice her slightly trembling hands. "I've been foolish. I know. I love you and I'm going to be more careful from now on. I promise"

She moved away and made a feeble attempt to straighten her dishevelled hair.

"So, Lord Alurl" she said, beaming up at him again "Would you be so kind as to escort your noble sister from the Temple? The Mother has answered my prayer most justly ... because she sent you to save me"

[Ashtallion Urdil]

Ashtallion felt a huge surge of relief as he held his sister, if only for a few brief flickers, running a hand over her silver hair. " You have been far from foolish.... we just need to get your magical training back on track. ", he smirked slightly as she stepped away.

" More than happy to my Lady Alrul. ", the titles were still strange sounding to him, he had never expected to be considered a member of nobility...his passion was magic and his only ambition was to become Archmage. He took his sisters arm, but not before his golden eyes glanced skyward once more, watching the diminishing balls of flame that fell from the heavens. " Besides, I have something to tell you.... ", without continuing his sentence, he broke off and spoke to the lieutenant. " My sister and I need to get to the Lord Advocates estate. Can you suggest the swiftest route Liuetenant? "

[Sebastian Beauvais]

The lieutenant did not reply to Alustariel's parting comments, but merely stood silently as the Lady passed by to join her brother. He would answer to his own standards and that of the Crown, but there was no point in delving into those distinctions with the silver-haired adhiel just then. With the siblings engaged in their own short conversation, Ceallachan gave a few quick orders to his subordinate and sent the guardsman rushing off for reinforcements while he stayed behind to watch over the incapacitated captive.

Ashtallion's call brought the adhiel officer's attention back to the nobles in his presence, and he paused only a flicker before providing the information they sought.

"Straight back the way we came, Lord Alrul," answered Ceallachan. "That was the quickest way here, and the quickest back. I'm afraid with all that is afoot in the city this night," he glanced westward over the walls of the temple to where an orange glow lit the lower city across the river, "you'll not find carriages for hire. I trust you and the Lady will be fine to walk? I should be able to spare a few guards within half a mark to escort you, if you wish."

True to his word, it wasn't much longer when a small squad of Royal Guards arrived on the scene accompanied by a priest of the temple. They immediately deferred to the lieutenant's orders and took the injured human into custody while the priest laboured to save his life. Other groups could be seen moving here and there throughout the grounds, the cloaking fog now dissipated completely, and Alustariel and Ashtallion had no doubt K'tan's sanctuary was once again securely in adhiel hands.

With an honour guard of two royal guards, the Alrul siblings took their leave of the unexpected battlefield and made their way eastward, up the hill and to the welcoming confines of the Lord Advocates estate.

[Alustariel Urdil]

Alu fawned over Asht as they walked. She recanted the whole tale to him of how the mist had set in and the Brotherhood had ambushed her and the High Mother and of how she had thought that it was all to end there and then by the Great Oak.

"I was certain I was done for, the scariest thing was that I thought I would never see you again" she said as they were escorted up to the Lord Advocate's manner. She hoped that he was safe, for her stomach tightened with the thought that the Brotherhood may have targeted other Adhiel nobles this night.

"Asht. Do you think that when all is said and done tonight. When you have shown me what you wish to show ... we can ... return home? ... I know ... I know! It was at my urging that we left the Citadel and your little sister couldnt hold her own ground while she was here ... but ... this is not our home, its our mother's and even she rejected it ..." she took a deep breath, she was obviously nervous in relaying these feelings to her brother "I have never felt safe since leaving the University, somehow I just don't think it was my time to leave"

"We have titles here, so if you want to stay then we can stay. I'm sure wealth would follow. But would happiness?" her grey eyes met his for a second and then darted away as the Lord Advocates luxurious house came into view.

[Ashtallion Urdil]

Asht had thanked the lieutenant once more before allowing himself and Alu to be escorted back the Lord Advocates estate.

" Our titles will follow us wherever we go, Alu. In fact I'm counting on it. ", he smirked slightly but said nothing more for a few moments. " Mage Falgan would have been a wondrous teacher, I have no doubt he would have taken me to the next level in my training towards......my aspiration. However there are plenty of fine tutors at the University, and you need to hone your magical skills. Besides, Kislovan no longer holds the fabled appeal it used to for me. ", his thought centred on the hot bloodied racism that ran deep into the heart of all of Kislovan, like a festering wound, spreading its foulness throughout the land.

" Back to the Citadel for us. I'm sure the Lord Advocate will be most agrieved to hear of our decision to leave, I believe he is quite smitten with you sister. ", the golden lord let out a small chortle before carrying on in a slightly graver, distinctly cold tone, " I have a friend in the Citadel that I feel a desire to see again anyway....sooner than I had hoped....but still managable. "

Ashtallions golden gaze wandered around him, taking in the surrounding land and finally resting on the heavens above. " What do you make of these flaming masses Alu? Divine punishment? Or perhaps sorcery of some kind? ", he wasn't about to reveal it was he himself that had called down the meteors until he could gauge her reaction to them. Soon they would be back at the estate and he could show her the tome of magic he cast the spell from.

It was odd though, despite the destructive power he had loosed upon the city, his lust for that tome was growing stronger with every step back to the estate. The very thought that someone may have laid their hands upon it sent sparks of quiet fury and envy through him.

[Alustariel Urdil]

Alustariel looked to the sky where her brother had directed her gaze. The streaking meteors had been constant throughout the night though they seemed less disturbing now that the greater threat had passed.

"Seldom have the Gods intervened in such a way. But surely if it is sorcery, to conjure such grand magic must require immense skill. Perhaps a spell of your Mage Falgan?" She wondered but for a moment why Ashtallion had asked her this, though she put it down to the fact that he could be curious about the occurance.

She walked on for a while in silence, and at times held her brother's hand tightly, as if she never intended to let him go again. Everytime she had got herself into trouble was a time when she had been without Ashtallion. That meant two things, she must gain strength to stand on her own two feet, but whilst that was happening it would be unwise to stray from loved ones who could protect her. When they arrived at the Insurinn Estate she put such thoughts aside and let talk return to their newfound heritage.

"Yes, I suppose its in our blood. And I know that the Angiril family is well known in the Citadel, so that may be useful ... Argil will be a little hard to leave, I daresay he could have made me very happy, and I could have helped heal the hurt that the Exodus had on him ... but I don't know whether I could have fallen in love with him. He was a great friend, and I shall miss him. I do hope he is safe tonight"

"So, Asht. What is it that you wish to show me?"

[Ashtallion Urdil]

OOC: Taking great assumption that Alu and Asht reached the estate without problem!

IC: Once they had reached the estate, the golden haired lord had thanked the two soldiers for their escort and bid them farewell. Alustariels' brother remained silent, not speaking another word until the two were secreted away within the chamber in which he had been studying the tome previously. He assumed that none of the serving staff would dare touch the tome upon fear of what it could do, or incurring the wrath of a sorcerous lord.

After speaking with his sister he would seek out the Lord Advocate and inform him of their decision to leave Kislovan.

Ashtallion folded his hands into the opposite sleeves of his robe, frowning down at the tome of magic of the table yet not daring to read any of the words. He merely stared at the pages, hesitant to even reach out and close the ancient book. " It was no divine intervention that set the sky on fire, Alu, nor was it Mage Falgan.... ", he paused a moment, evidently struggling to continue. With a heartfilled sigh, " .....it was me. "

He looked up at her with sorrowful eyes, yet still they appeared to hold a coldness and defiance, apparently ready to defend himself should she think to chastise him. Though he knew her better than that. " I was studying this tome.... ", he gestured with his head, " ....The Secrets of Creation it is called. You can imagine the title grabbed my attention straight away, but I had never found the time to sit down and study.....until this eveingtide. I was reading the words, not even speaking them and it just....it....it just took hold of me, before I knew it I was muttering the words, then standing and casting the greatest spell I have ever woven in my life thus far.... ", it was clear by his current expression that the eupohoria of magic he felt at its casting had been....heavenly.

" The power, Alu. I've tasted the next step. I.....simply could not control it. Yet. It took a moment for me to realise what the spell had resulted in. The words meant little to me, save that I could read them without really knowing what they meant. Snippets...here and there....the odd phrase.....still I never imagined reading the tome would have such dire consequences. Stupid of me. I'm powerful enough, even at this....low rank...to know what can come of carelessness. ", the blonde mage shook his head, golden eyes closing for a moment. " Such stupidity. And no doubt someone, Falgan, will trace the spell to me, I imagine he has such divination spells available to him. So, you see. Once more I will be seen as running from a problem. ", he smirk, ironically.

" But I've tasted what I will one day wield, and I will suffer no one to be my equal....save one person...and that is you. ", once again he locked his eyes on Alu. " Know this Alustariel. I intend to gain a vast amount of power. As yourself no doubt do also. To gain that, sacrifices will have to be made in the future. At times you may come to think me hard, cold and cruel.....for what I plan. You are the only one I will share my ambitions with, my secrets, my desires....the only one... "

[Dartimos Hammer]

OOC: Given that Seb and I started this mess, he has been more than kind in letting me close it out before the reset.

Asht's discussions with his sister would have to wait until later as the Lord Advocate entered the room. Told about thier planned departure, he shook his head sadly.

"Kislovan will be the poorer for having seen you leave, especially in the troubles we will be facing. But I can only wish you the best in you endevors. Tomorrow I will have packages for the both of you. Included will be signet rings that will identify you as Kislovian nobility, and should grant you access and shelter at any consulate or agency. It will also include an as yet incomplete family tree. I had been planning it as a gift for later, but you should have it to take with you. It shows where you fit in the chain of families here on the island. Take it to remind you that you will always have a home here."

Walking over he took both of Alu's hands in his and brought them up to his lips, his kiss whisper soft but enduring. "Milady Alustrial, as much as I wish both of you would stay because Kislovan needs you, I wish you would stay for much more personal reasons. It has been a cold darkness since the Oasis and you have brought much light to my house. I cheer myself by remembering that we are a long lived people. A year from now, a decade from now, there will be a place should you choose to return."

His face coulded slightly and clearly he was finding it difficult to continue. "I am aware of what transpired at the Temple tonight. Be careful, the Wolf may have many friends. But you are heroes here on the Island and when you leave you will be given an Honor Guard worthy of your deeds."

[Ashtallion Urdil]

Ashtallion was caught slightly off guard as the Lord Advocate entered the study. The mage was prepared to defend their decision, listing the reasons why they had to leave....however there was no need. He felt almost ashamed at leaving. Almost.

" My Lord Advocate, you have shown us both more kindness than I expected upon coming to Kislovan. We found out a part of our past that we never knew existed and for both those reasons I thank you. We will return, one day, to Kislovan, I think. ", his eyes met Alu's for a brief flicker. " However it seems we have other tasks to take care of back in the Citadel before we can be comfortably secure. "

His eyes darted away as the Lord took both of Alustariels hands in his own, kissing them gently. Asht felt profound sorrow for the adhiel lord, Alu could have made someone extremely happy here in Kislovan, there would have been no shortage of Noblilty scrabbling for her hand. Yet if she she felt the same as Asht did, the Sorcerous Arts came first and foremost....for now. And with that thought, his eyes rested on the tome, to which he reached out a hand gingerly, his fingertips grasping the cover and closing it over. He picked the old tome up and held it in both hands near to his chest.

" As for the Wolf, my Lord Advocate. Hopefully I have given them pause for thought this eveningtide. I am no mageling. Let us pray that is enough to keep them at bay for some time. I would not like to have yet more blood on my hands. ", a lie Ashtallion? When were you in the habit of spinning yet more lies? You'll be snared in your own web one day sorcerer.

" Oh, and one other thing....would you be able to pass on my thanks to Mage Falgan? I do not know if I will see him before we depart for the Citadel....I would have learned a great deal from such a reknowned sorcerer... ", the magus' eyes seem to slide out of focus and see something distant, it was clear that he come to regret not being able to learn from the powerful battlemage. " If anything, he made an impression and was a most inspiring Sorcerer. I can but hope I will become as powerful and talented as he is. ", hope? I will exceed him one day. Sure of yourself, aren't you Urdil? Or should I say Lord Alrul....

[Alustariel Urdil]

"Goodbye, dear Argil. I will most certainly return someday, of that you can be sure. My brother is right, you have extended to us nothing but goodwill and friendship, and that earns you a place in our hearts" she stepped forward and kissed him on both cheeks.

Alustariel's heart was breaking, she could sense the sadness in him at her departure. She was not completely sure what would have happened should she have stayed. She had not gotten to know him so closely as to assume she might love him. Alustariel had weathered many love affairs in her seventy yahren and saw each as an enjoyable distraction yet ultimately she had promised herself that she would belong to no man. What hurt her about Argil was the knowledge of what he had lost and prospect that things might well have been happier if Alu had stayed.

"Yes. Let us go in the morning, Ashtallion. We cannot leave our dear friend's company without a little merriment"



OOC:
Are we just going to skip to Chyril or shall we play this out? I'm happy either way just as long as we know what happens with this book , as you can probably tell. This family tree sounds interesting too!!

EDIT - Removed reference to the magic book

[Ashtallion Urdil]

OOC: Just so ya know, Alu. The book does not belong to the Lord Advocate. Asht brought it with him from the Citadel. The book is actually the property of the University. Asht merely....borrowed...it.

[Sebastian Beauvais]

Skilled!